– Questions Uzodinma Of Private Military Operation Mercenaries In Imo
A group known as Joint Imo Civil Society Organization, comprising some civil society groups in the state, have condemned in very strong terms, the continued detention of popular radio presenter and human rights activist, Mazi Chinonso Uba( Nonso Nkwa ) of Ozisa FM radio station by the Nigerian Police Force in Abuja.
The group disclosed this in a press statement signed by the Coordinators of the component associations, including, Imo People’s Action for Democracy(IPAD), Imo Concerned Citizens for Good Governance(ICCGG), Credible Imo Professionals for Good Governance(CPROGGOV),Protect the Weak International Foundation (PROWIF),Messengers of the New Imo Initiative, Nigerian Union of Journalist(NUJ) chairman and the Convener, ONURUBE, South East, Nigeria, which was held on August,11,2023 in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
Recall that the award winning presenter and human rights activist, Mr. Chinonso Uba popularly known as Nonso Nkwa was on Thursday,July,27, 2023 abducted by police officers after anchoring his program at Ozisa FM located inside Maria Assumpta Catholic Cathedral, Owerri around 11 am the same day, whisked to the Criminal Investigation Department SCID of the Imo State Police Command, Owerri, subsequently flown to Force Headquarters Abuja.
He was later transferred to Maitama Police Area Command, also in Abuja where he is detained till date, following a petition filed by the Imo State Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma alleging criminal defamation.
The organization unanimously condemned the gestapo style of his arrest stating that it contravenes the laws of our land, as enshrined in the constitution as well as international policies, protocols and treatise which Nigeria is signatory to. They also stated that the police is instituted to keep and maintain the law, not to violate the very law that established them and disregarding the regulatory framework of the police ACT.
“We unanimously condemn the prolonged detention of Nonsonkwa without bail for an alleged bailable offense. This is Day 16 he has been in Police detention. Well past the 24 hours or 48 hours as the case maybe Stipulated by the constitution for any person to be remanded in Police Custody. This constitutes another breach of the law by the authority that should keep and preserve the law. A situation that has caused emotional, economic, mental and physical trauma to his wife, children, and relatives shocked by the flagrant infringement of Nonso’s fundamental human rights and Isolation by continued detention in faraway Abuja, “they posited.
The organization further stated that the recent television interview program anchored by Seun Okimbaloye of Channels TV where Asari Dokubo admitted running a private army that was engaged by the federal government of Nigeria in agreement with the Imo government to operate in Imo and some other states in the country, has vindicated Mazi Chinonso Uba. Hence the Imo State Government and the Nigeria Police should tender unreserved public apology to him and his family for the inhuman treatment he was subjected to.
